Syndicate game files hide recruitment message aimed at pirates

An ASCII version of the Starbreeze logo, as it appears in the NFO file accompanying Syndicate

Image courtesy of Starbreeze

Anyone who's ever hung out on a warez board is probably familiar with NFO files, the explanatory text files that accompany cracked versions of many popular games (for the more law-abiding among you, textfiles.com has some examples). Now, Swedish developer Starbreeze is using the format to hide a pithy recruitment message in the legitimate version of Syndicate, the first-person revamp to Bullfrog's classic PC strategy title released last week.

In addition to some tongue-in-cheek "Install Notes" ("1) Insert disc 2) Play ;)") and basic gameplay information, the NFO file, as discovered by Reddit user MikkelManDK, includes a call for those "bored with watching from the sidelines" to apply for Starbreeze jobs in art, modeling, texturing, sound design, programming or game design. The file also includes a message pointing out that "over a hundred people spent several years of their lives making this game" and asking players to "please consider purchasing it if you haven't."

While the note is easily discoverable by anyone who delves into the Syndicate directory on their hard drive, the NFO format suggests that Starbreeze is actively reaching out to the piracy community with its recruitment message. That might not be a bad move: As Torrent Freak point out, many high profile members of the game cracking scene have gone on to development positions with a variety of game companies.

Kyle Orland / Kyle is the Senior Gaming Editor at Ars Technica, specializing in video game hardware and software. He has journalism and computer science degrees from University of Maryland. He is based in the Washington, DC area.